FAQs about H1N1 for employees with member contactWhat is the difference between symptoms of H1N1 and those of seasonal flu symptoms? How is H1N1 transmitted? How close do I need to be to someone with the flu for transmission to occur? Who is at highest risk for H1N1? What are facts about treatment? Do I need to get tested to confirm I have H1N1? How can I prevent the transmission of H1N1? What should I do if I get sick? If I start to feel sick should I go home from work? Should I be concerned about being exposed at work? If I get sick how should I let people know that I have the flu and may have exposed them at work? Will I be receiving an N-95 mask? How long will it take to get fitted for an N-95 mask? Will there be enough N-95 masks for everyone? When should I wear an N95 mask? Can I reuse my N-95 mask? What if I have not yet been fit-tested for an N-95 mask? Will there be other options? What is anti-viral prophylaxis? Is Care Wisconsin staff considered a group where prophylaxis may be recommended? Is anti-viral prophylaxis recommended for members? How high is the transmission of H1N1 in a household? Things to consider when caring for a member with flu like symptoms:
What is the difference between symptoms of H1N1 and the seasonal flu? Back to top
How is H1N1 transmitted? The primary routes of transmission are: - Breathing in aerosol droplets while in a close proximity to an ill person. Aerosol droplet count goes down significantly after a meter distance, so by close proximity, we mean within one meter or so. Wearing a mask reduces the number of aerosol droplets you breathe in when you are within that one meter range.
- Touching the virus with your hands on doorknobs, chair arms and counters, and then touching your hands to your mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth). Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth in flu season. Frequent hand washing (especially before you intend to touch your eyes, nose or mouth), and washing down surfaces such as doorknobs, counters and chair arms with disinfectant all help to reduce the transmission.
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How close do I need to be to someone with the flu for transmission to occur?
Significant exposure occurs when you are within one meter (about one arm’s length) of a person who has the flu-like symptoms if you are not wearing a mask.
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Who is at highest risk for H1N1?
Those under the age of 25 and pregnant women (as well as a few other high-risk groups) have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as more susceptible to the H1N1 strain of influenza. “High-risk” conditions include asthma or other chronic pulmonary disease; cancer; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; pregnancy; weakened immune system; or kidney, liver or neurological disorder.
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What are facts about treatment? - There is no evidence that treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) decreases the risk of complications for either seasonal flu or H1N1.
- Treatment, if started within 48 hours, does little to decrease the duration or severity of the disease.
- Treatment is of no benefit if started after 48 hours.
- Treatment doesn’t affect the guidelines about when a person returns to work.
- Treatment doesn’t reduce the risk of complications (i.e. pneumonia, asthma exacerbations).
Primary treatment is supportive, with the use of Tylenol, fluids and cough suppressant as the mainstays of treatment. Back to top
Do I need to get tested to confirm I have H1N1? - No. If you have flu symptoms then call it flu and proceed accordingly.
- Both H1N1 and seasonal flu are likely to be in the community this fall. However, a lab test is not needed to confirm the diagnosis of H1N1, because disease management, infection control and treatment are the same regardless of which flu it is.
- The CDC is recommending that you not get tested for H1N1; it many put others at risk.
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How can I prevent the transmission of H1N1? - Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after you cough or sneeze. An alcohol based hand sanitizer can also be used.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and discard the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as viruses and germs can spread easily that way.
- Try to avoid or limit contact with those who are sick as influenza is thought to be mainly spread from person-to-person through coughing and sneezing of those who are infected.
- If you're sick, stay home from school or work to keep others from getting infected.
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What should I do if I get sick?
If you are sick, you should stay home from work or school and keep away from others as much as possible. Avoid travelling-except to get medical care or for other necessities for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. (Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.) If your illness is severe or you are at high risk for flu complications, seek medical care.
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If I start to feel sick should I go home from work?
You should notify your supervisor and inform them of your symptoms. If you have flu-like symptoms you should put on a mask and go home as soon as possible. This will help to keep others from getting infected.
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Should I be concerned about being exposed at work?
H1N1 is prevalent in our community at this time. One should always be concerned about exposure of H1N1 and take the following precautions:
- Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after you cough or sneeze. An alcohol based hand sanitizer can also be used.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and discard of the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as germs can spread easily that way.
- Avoid contact with those who are sick as influenza is thought to be mainly spread from person-to-person through coughing and sneezing of those who are infected.
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If I get sick how should I let people know that I have the flu and may have exposed them at work?
Contact your supervisor.
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Will I be receiving an N-95 mask?
Only employees with member contact will be given a N-95 mask. They will need to be fit-tested by a CW qualified fit-tester. You will receive an information sheet after successfully being fit-tested that identifies your mask style and size. You will have access to your mask style and size should you need to use one.
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How long will it take to get fitted for an N-95 mask?
It will take about 15 to 20 minutes to get fit-tested. The process includes completing a questionnaire and then the actual fit-test procedure.
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Will there be enough N-95 masks for everyone?
The N-95 mask will be available only to those who have been fit-tested. Home Care, Adult Day Center, Transportation, Rehab and Dental staff will be fit-tested first followed by Partnership and Family Care Teams. While Family Care and Partnership teams do have routine contact with members they often do not provide cares within the one meter “significant exposure” area. All staff will have access to surgical masks.
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When should I wear an N95 mask?
You should wear an N-95 mask if you are going to perform any type of activity within one meter (one arm's length) of a member with flu-like symptoms.
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Can I reuse my N-95 mask?
The N-95 mask should be placed in a paper bag after use and marked with the user’s name to avoid re-use by another person. The N-95 may be re-used until it is visibly soiled, torn or damaged, until it becomes moist from condensation of exhaled air, or until the user can no longer get a good fit when doing a fit-check.
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What if I have not yet been fit-tested for an N-95 mask? Will there be other options?
If you have not been fit-tested and must provide cares within the one meter “significant exposure” area, a surgical mask should be used as this will assist with decreasing transmission of the flu. Wash your hands after you put away your mask.
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What is anti-viral prophylaxis?
Anti-viral prophylaxis for flu consists of taking anti-viral medication after a significant exposure, but before the illness starts, to decrease the likelihood of flu developing.
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Is Care Wisconsin staff considered a group where prophylaxis may be recommended?
If a staff person is in a high risk group (i.e. those with asthma or other chronic pulmonary disease; cancer; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; pregnancy; weakened immune system; or kidney, liver or neurological disorder), he or she may want to consult with a physician regarding prophylaxis.
For prophylaxis to be effective, the health care worker will need to get prophylaxis within two days of exposure.
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Is anti-viral prophylaxis recommended for members?
Anti-viral prophylaxis for members may be considered by the teams on a case-by-case basis.
Factors to think about when considering anti-viral prophylaxis:
- How high was the exposure?
Exposure would not be considered severe if the ill member was wearing a mask, or if the ill member was sitting more than a meter away. Adhering to basic techniques (frequent handwashing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer if hand-washing facilities are not readily available, proper cough etiquette, frequent disinfecting of commonly used areas and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth) is the FIRST defense in preventing the transmission of the flu. Prophylaxis consists of oseltamivir 75 mg once a day for 10 days. Prophylaxis needs to be started within 48 hours of exposure to be effective. If in doubt, you may consult with the medical consult team.
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How high is the transmission of H1N1 in a household?
It is important to realize the transmission of H1N1 in households is not that high: It has been up to an 18% transmission rate, which is slightly lower than that of seasonal influenza. The use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) reduces transmission rate up to 8%, but carries risk for side effects of vomiting, with one in 20 children taking oseltamivir having side effects.
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Things to consider when caring for a member with flu like symptoms: - With members who attend the Day Center, teams should work with families to create a back-up plan for when a member gets sick and can’t go to the Day Center or needs to be sent home from the Day Center on short notice.
- Members who feel sick with flu-symptoms should stay home for seven days after symptom onset, or until 24 hours post symptoms, whichever is greater. At home, members who have flu-symptoms should stay in their own area and not the common area until not symptomatic. They should wash their hands often and should wear a if possible when they will be in close proximity to others.
- Reduce/postpone any non-essential member visits to providers’ offices during the time the member is symptomatic.
- Reduce/postpone any non-essential staff visits to members’ residences, when the member has flu-like symptoms. If staff have to make a visit, the risk of exposure should be very low if the staff member wears a mask, washes hands and avoids touching mouth, nose and eyes.
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